Shortly after The Fellowship of the Ring was released in movie theaters, New Zealand tourism increased from a steady stream to a flood. Knowing the likely motivations of many of these travelers, the country trademarked the title “Home of Middle‑earth.™” New Zealand airports reached out to WETA Workshop, who had lengthy experience crafting everything LotR from scenery to weaponry, to help arriving fans feel at home the moment they stepped of the plane.
WETA delivered in spades. Or rather, in dwarves, a dragon, and eagles.
Auckland Airport: Dwarven Statues
Two Dwarf soldiers stand at either end of Auckland Airport. At five meters (over sixteen feet) each, they are surprisingly difficult to find. Those who don’t know might think there was only one warrior standing vigil over Aotearoa (the Maori name for New Zealand), but they both guard and welcome fans, many of whom begin their pilgrimage in this major international airport. They were my first and last glimpses of Middle Earth made real.
Wellington Airport: Smaug’s Head
The infamous dragon head traveled the world at various conventions, generally of the “Comic-Con” type, before settling down in Wellington for good. Smaug doesn’t breathe fire inside the airport, thankfully, but occasionally blows smoke out his giant nostrils and lazily blinks. Posted signage asks that people not climb the dragon, but offers plenty of rocks to scramble over.
Wellington Airport: Eagles and Gandalf the Grey
Also in Wellington Airport are two eagles and a flying wizard hanging suspended from the ceiling. While very easy to spot, backlighting, height, and angels make it all but impossible to take a good photo with any of them. At least with a 2017-quality camera phone.
Not to say I didn’t try.
There was also once a Gollum installation in Wellington, where his head and arm poked through the ceiling to grasp at several giant fish hanging in midair. Sadly, that was a temporary feature in 2012, when my dreams of traveling here were only that; dreams and nothing more. Oh if that Kaitlin could see me now, arriving in each of these New Zealand airports.
I like to think she’d approve.
Kaitlin’s Adventure in New Zealand was from June 8-25, 2017